Genesis 31:14-24

14 And Rachel and Leah answered, Whether we have anything residue, or left, in the chattels, and heritage of our father? (And Rachel and Leah asked, Is there anything left here for us, among our father's possessions, yea of our inheritance?)

15 Whether he areckoned not, or held, us (as) aliens, and sold (us), and ate our price? (Did he not treat us like foreigners, or like strangers, and sell us, and then eat up all the money that was paid for us?)

16 But God took away the riches of our father, and gave those to us, and to our sons; wherefore do thou all things which God hath commanded to thee.

17 Forsooth Jacob rose, and put his free children and wives on camels, and went forth; (So Jacob rose up, and put his children and his wives on camels, and went forth;)

18 and he took all his cattle, (and his) flocks, and whatever thing he had gotten in Mesopotamia (and whatever he had gotten in Paddan-aram), and went (back) to Isaac, his father, into the land of Canaan.

19 In that time Laban went to shear sheep, and Rachel stole the idols of her father. (Now at that time Laban went out to shear sheep, and while he was away, Rachel stole her father's household idols.)

20 And Jacob would not acknowledge to the father of his wives, that he would flee;

21 and when he had gone, as well he as all things that were of his right, and when he had passed [over] the water, and he went against the hill of Gilead, (and so when he had gone forth, he as well as all of the things that were rightfully his, and when he had crossed over the Euphrates River, and had gone toward the hill country of Gilead,)

22 it was told to Laban, in the third day, that Jacob fled. (Laban learned, on the third day, that Jacob had fled.)

23 And Laban took his brethren [with him], and pursued him seven days, and [over]took him in the hill of Gilead. (And Laban took his kinsmen with him, and pursued Jacob for seven days, and finally overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.)

24 And Laban saw in sleep the Lord saying to him, Beware that thou speak not anything sharply against Jacob.

Genesis 31:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 31

This chapter relates how that Jacob observing that Laban and his sons envied his prosperity, and having a call from God to return to his own country, acquaints his wives with it; and reports to them Laban's ill usage of him, and the wonderful appearance of God to him, and for him, and his orders to him to depart from thence, Ge 31:1-13; to which they agreed, knowing full well their father's unkindness, and that they had nothing to expect from him, and therefore judged it best to go off with what they had got through the gift of God unto them, Ge 31:14-16; upon which Jacob set out privately, with all he had, towards his own country, while Laban was shearing his sheep, Ge 31:17-21; three days after, Laban, being informed of it, pursued after Jacob, and overtook him at Mount Gilead; but was warned by the way to be cautious what he said to him, Ge 31:22-25; yet nevertheless he warmly expostulated with him about his secret flight, not giving him the opportunity of taking his leave of his children, and especially for taking away his gods, Ge 31:26-30; to which Jacob gave an answer, Ge 31:31-35; and in his turn was warm likewise, and chided Laban severely for his hot pursuit of him, his charge of stealth, when he could find nothing on him, his hard labour for the space of twenty years with him, and his ill requital of him for it, Ge 31:36-42; however, upon the whole, an amicable agreement was made between them, and they parted in a friendly manner, Ge 31:43-55.